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I bought a roller on e-bay for under $100. It cost almost as much to ship it as it did for the machine so I was in under $180 or so. Now, I can't build a roller for $180. I've seen others here who've done the same, often modifying the machine to suit their specific needs. I made some dies to roll square tubing for a specific job.

Coincidentally, I was just out looking at that very machine because I need to roll 5" wide material x 3/16" thick. Too wide for this machine, and too thick for my ancient slip-roll. So... Imagonna make meez a macheen to do the job.

Shouldn't be too difficult... just might take some muscles to make 'er go round. So... bigger wheel or gear reduction... or... work out the ol' guns. I'll probably go with big wheel for now 'cause I gotta get 'er done, dawg.

Just read the literature that Broccoli posted. MMMMM.... beverage....

What kinds of bends are you looking to do? I ask because I used to do all my bending with out any rollers or bending machines. Just some forms and some leeeeverage. You'd be surprised.

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i also got mine off e-bay many years ago. same one as HF offers i think. its a simple design, shouldn't be hard to make, just the rollers would be the hard part to make without a metal lath.
some of the bender manufactures offer up do it your self designs that will work with their die's. i posted a pic of one of those designs.
and a break down drawing i made of the one i have. and a few pic's of mine. hope its some help.

thanks for the help
......or..........
hope i helped
sigpic feel free to shoot me an e-mail direct i have time to chat.james@newyorkmetalart.comsummer is here, plant a tree. if you don't have space or time to plant one sponsor some one else to plant one for you. a tree is an investment in our planet, help it out.
JAMES

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Coincidentally, I was just out looking at that very machine because I need to roll 5" wide material x 3/16" thick. Too wide for this machine, and too thick for my ancient slip-roll. So... Imagonna make meez a macheen to do the job.

Almost done with the macheen. Rollers and bearings are complete; I just need to zip up the frame, assemble it, make a handle, and roll something to make sure it works.

I've been busy on other projects, but I should have it together early next week when time allows. I'll post the process and results then; at that point, all the armchair experts can tell me what I did wrong and how I could have made it better... but I'll be too busy rolling stuff to care.

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Well, this thing's been coming together in bits and pieces of time and material. I've been nibbling away on it in spare moments, but I have to give many thanks to my father, who machined all the roller components (rollers, bearing housings, bushings, etc.). Hopefully I can get him back in here to jig up the frame for me so all I have to do is zip it up with the welder. Thanks, dad!

1) Had the 1/2 x 4 flat bar for the frame. Cut to length.
2) The "plans." This is about as close to a "plan" you're gonna get out of me, so I hope the pics will tell the story.
3) Thanks, dad!
4) Rollers complete with bearings, and home-made pillow blocks.
5) I actually had these 1" holes cut on the water-jet. I piggy backed them on another project I had going with my water-jet source.

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Well, I managed to zip up the frame and seemed to keep it all pretty true in the process.

I tacked up this tubular base with wheels, but I may need to bolt it down like a real machine... we'll see.

I've just gotta flip the hand wheel and weld the underside in the morning, then I s'ppose I could finally roll something.

If this thing no worky, I'll quietly bow out of the forum and purchase myself a plate roller, complete with motor... ... which I'll probably purchase in the future, but this little guy should get me by for a while.

I used the same ring roller that you have. I used the dies for 1" square tubing for 1" round, which turned into a small disaster because, as one would expect , the round expanded and kept getting pinched in the dies and made it extremely difficult to roll. It all worked out in the end; I just got a good workout myself.